Southern California -- this just in

Kelly Thomas' stepmother says other officers should be charged

September 21, 2011 | 12:51
pm

Kelly Thomas' stepmother stood outside Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas' office Wednesday, crying after he announced charges would be brought against two police officers in the death of her stepson.

Dana Page said she was extremely happy with the charges, but said the four other officers involved in the case should also be charged.

"Nothing will bring Kelly back, but we miss him every day," she said. "We'll take the two for now."

She said it was "numbing" to hear Rackauckas recite the details of Thomas' July 5 confrontation with the officers, which led to his death several days later.

Officer Manuel Ramos was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the beating of Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless schizophrenic man. Officer Jay Cicinelli has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

"I can't imagine what was going through his mind," she said of Ramos, adding that the other four officers should have intervened.

"That's why they should be charged too," she said. "Because they didn't make him stop."

She also said she hopes that one outcome of the case is that police officers will be better trained to deal with the mentally ill.

She said she raised Kelly for about five years when he was a teenager.

Photo: Fullerton resident Susan Brodbeck, left, hugs Kelly Thomas' step-mother Dana Pape and step-sister Melissa Pape after the District Attorney announced that criminal charges have been filed against two of the officers of the six officers involved in the beating death of Thomas. Credit: GIna Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times